Teaser Infrared Image - The Answer

Answer: Image is of roof moisture! Taken by our very own Rick Maday, here is his description of the roof background and damage caught:

I took the image of the roof in Charlotte, NC while standing on the roof top of the ‘hotel room tower’ adjacent to the main hotel structure (lobby, ballrooms, etc.). The image was taken in the early evening, after the sun had fallen behind surrounding buildings and had not been shining on the roof for an hour or so. The moisture trapped under the roof membrane had absorbed the sun’s heat/energy during the day. Once the sunshine left the roof, the structure cooled much faster than the trapped moisture, due to water’s high thermal capacitance. The pattern on the roof is a sundial that has been painted on. In the visible image, while some water staining is visible, the exact extent to which the moisture has spread cannot be seen without infrared!

Thanks for sharing, Rick :). And thanks again for all of the great participation!